026_1918 Dec 14

Redange, Luxembourg Dec. 14, 1918 Mother Mine: Just received your letter of Nov. 14th as I was eating the evening meal and for lack of news will give you a little sketch of what our section does now that the fighting is over. About what is going on over here you know a great deal more than I do, not having seen an English paper for thirty days and only an occasional French one, which with my limited knowledge of the language, I fail on the fine points. We arrived in this village the 11th, in a wonderful rainstorm, I say wonderful because it had already kept up two then. Had arranged for a cantonment but were put out of it and found everything else taken, where upon we had to rent rooms to get the men in out of the wet. I might mention that this country is classed with the Boche and all officers and noncoms are supposed to go armed. Of course we got stuck a good stiff price but have cut it down considerably since, as a rule we never have to pay rent, but in this case we must and as no allowances are given, we pay it ourselves. It costs three of us, twelve francs, four a piece or about eighty cents a day. Just to give you an idea of what things cost, eggs are 10 francs a dozen, one waffle cooked- 25 cents, butter $2 a pound, coffee- one cup one franc, any other class of grease (besides butter) can’t be bought. I just mention these prices to show what you would spend if you could find these things to purchase. We have a room, Corp. Hale, Sgt. Kemble, myself, with Montana Pete, who spent eleven years in Montana, electric lights, fire and have our fire built of a morning for us. Our schedule runs as follows: Roll call 7:30 a.m., physical exercise 7:30-7:45 am, breakfast , drill 9:30-10:30 am, lunch 11:30, special details are taken in afternoon, such as cut wood, etc. Then of course we have to take care of our sick which have been considerable. This is about the extent of our daily labors. The excitement is practically nil and we certainly are praying for an early release. Just happened to think that the 19th is Theron’s birthday and that I should write him. Am well Mother and hope to see you soon. Love from your son, Ted

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Redange, Luxembourg Dec. 14, 1918 Mother Mine: Just received your letter of Nov. 14th as I was eating the evening meal and for lack of news will give you a little sketch of what our section does now that the fighting is over. About what is going on over here you know a great deal more than I do, not having seen an English paper for thirty days and only an occasional French one, which with my limited knowledge of the language, I fail on the fine points. We arrived in this village the 11th, in a wonderful rainstorm, I say wonderful because it had already kept up two then. Had arranged for a cantonment but were put out of it and found everything else taken, where upon we had to rent rooms to get the men in out of the wet. I might mention that this country is classed with the Boche and all officers and noncoms are supposed to go armed. Of course we got stuck a good stiff price but have cut it down considerably since, as a rule we never have to pay rent, but in this case we must and as no allowances are given, we pay it ourselves. It costs three of us, twelve francs, four a piece or about eighty cents a day. Just to give you an idea of what things cost, eggs are 10 francs a dozen, one waffle cooked- 25 cents, butter $2 a pound, coffee- one cup one franc, any other class of grease (besides butter) can’t be bought. I just mention these prices to show what you would spend if you could find these things to purchase. We have a room, Corp. Hale, Sgt. Kemble, myself, with Montana Pete, who spent eleven years in Montana, electric lights, fire and have our fire built of a morning for us. Our schedule runs as follows: Roll call 7:30 a.m., physical exercise 7:30-7:45 am, breakfast , drill 9:30-10:30 am, lunch 11:30, special details are taken in afternoon, such as cut wood, etc. Then of course we have to take care of our sick which have been considerable. This is about the extent of our daily labors. The excitement is practically nil and we certainly are praying for an early release. Just happened to think that the 19th is Theron’s birthday and that I should write him. Am well Mother and hope to see you soon. Love from your son, Ted